bunker UK /ˈbʌŋ.kə/US /ˈbʌŋ.kɚ/noun 12verb 7forms 3phrases 2 noun12 •A hardened shelter, often partly buried or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks.The military built a bunker to help evacuate the citizens safely from the bombings. •A hazard on a golf course consisting of a sand-filled hollow. •A compartment for storing coal for the ship's boilers; or a tank for storing fuel oil for the ship's engines. •The coal compartment on a tank engine; it can also refer to that on a tender engine.The bunkers of these engines hold enough coal for one round journey of 120½ miles, and water is taken in each direction at Hexham. — 1941 •(UK, historical) A large bin or container for storing coal, often built outdoors in the yard of a house.There used to be a coal bunker at the back of the house - it was demolished years ago. •Ellipsis of bunker oil (usually plural).The vessel is taking on bunkers. •A refrigerator or freezer, usually with an open top, used to display chilled or frozen merchandise for convenience in grocery stores. •An obstacle used to block an opposing player's view and field of fire. •(UK, slang) One who bunks off; a truant from school. •(US) The menhaden, any of several species of fish in the genera Brevoortia and Ethmidium.Ten hours of footage revealed the young [shark's] habits, such as diving for squid up to 150 feet deep, then moving closer to shore to feast on huge schools of bunker fish. — 2024 •(Scotland) A sort of box or chest, as in a window, the lid of which serves as a seat.A winnock-bunker in the east, / There sat auld Nick, in shape o' beast; […] — 1790 •(Scotland, slang) A kitchen worktop. verb7 •Often followed by down: to take shelter in a bunker or other place.More than 10,000 people were bunkering in 20 emergency shelters across the disaster zone, not all of them cyclone-rated. — 2012 •To load (a vessel) with coal or fuel oil for the engine. •To take a load of coal or fuel oil for its engine. •To hit (a golf ball) into a bunker; (chiefly passive voice) to place (a golfer) in the position of having a golf ball in a bunker. •(UK, informal) To place (someone) in a position that is difficult to get out of; to hinder. •(Nigeria) To steal bunker fuel by illicitly siphoning it off. •To fire constantly at (an opponent hiding behind an obstacle), trapping them and preventing them from firing at other players; also, to eliminate (an opponent behind an obstacle) by rushing to the position and firing at extremely close range as the player becomes exposed. formsbunkered · bunkering · bunkers Phrases with bunker bunker outTo suit up in firefighting gear. bunker upTo fuel up a ship, or sometimes other modes of conveyance.